By Bertha Henson
Associate Editor
bertha@sph.com.sg

 

SO THIS stepfather doesn't believe in sparing the rod, delivering 100 strokes in two hours on the 10 year old. 

It had me thinking about my childhood.

One hundred strokes? The most, 10 strokes for me, I reckon.

Over two hours? Probably in just 10 minutes or less.

Caning is a tiring job for the caner. You must be in full fury to wield the rotan. Never with two canes tied together either, as was the step-father's weapon of choice. In fact, I believe that the impact is greater if the rotan was thinner, worse, if the end was split. You would end up with bleeding cuts, not just beautiful strokes over your skin.

To cane or not to cane?
ST file photo

Another thought that came to my mind was that the 10 year old boy must be really naughty. He played truant, didn't do his homework  and was caught lying to his teachers. I'll wager it wasn't his first brush with the cane.

So should I surmise that past punishments didn't work?

It used to be that a caning was what you can expect at home after some transgressions in school. (In this case, it was the boy's teachers who blew the whistle on the step-father) I wasn't the only child with rotan marks in class. Sometimes, we would compare each other's injuries with pride, or commiserate with each other in tears. 

And never, ever would we even think of skipping school if the rotan is what we can expect when we get back home. Play truant? Better not even think about going home then.

Rewind some 30-plus years and I think both parents would have landed in jail, for what is now seen as brutal treatment of minors. In fact, my father was once called to my brother's primary school to face his principal, as his teachers had noticed cane marks on him.

My family had a great laugh when told that my father was suspected of child abuse. In my family, the cane was wielded with impunity and while we were scarred. it was only temporary.

When I was in the United States some years back, I was asked about our practice of "flogging'' prisoners. Truth to tell, I have always associated "flogging'' with whips. We use the cane, a thick one and a doctor has to be around to ensure that the criminal would survive his just deserts - that's somewhat what I said.

Jaws dropped, especially after I add that most homes had a smaller version of the prison cane for naughty children. Some enlightenment came to their faces when I asked what they used to discipline children. The answer: The belt or the garden hose. Well, so there!

The rotan, I guess, conjures in those living in what they deem civilised nations, some primitive image of punishment .

A few weeks ago, a childcare teacher was proscribed for rubbing chilli on a child's mouth. 

Some younger colleagues were astounded. I opened my mouth to say so what? It was something that's done to discipline naughty kids, I said. In other countries which deem themselves more civilised, a similar act would be "washing out your mouth with soap''. 

Taking into account  cultural differences, I guess the rotan here is the belt over there, the chilli is the soap.

I never got the chilli treatment but I did get the onion treatment. Here's how you do it: Crush some shallots into some baby oil and smear it liberally over eyelids and under eyes. It's the punishment for cry-babies. You cry because you simply cannot stop crying - and next time, you think twice about throwing a tantrum. 

Okay, so 100 strokes is way too much for a kid to endure. In fact, he had to be hospitalised.

And the chilli treatment from someone who is not the kid's parent is unacceptable.

I doubt though that either kid will be scarred for life. More likely, the adults will be.